TheAustin A40 Sportswas introduced at the 1949London Motor ShowatEarls Court[2]as a four-passenger, aluminium-bodiedconvertiblevariant of theAustin A40– carrying anAustin of Englandnameplate, bearingAustin'sFlying Abonnet mascothood ornament,and designed and manufactured in conjunction withJensen Motors.
| Austin A40 Sports | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Austin(BMC) |
| Production | 1950–1953 |
| Designer | Eric Neale |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | sports car |
| Body style | 2-door convertible |
| Related | Austin A40 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 1.2 LI4 |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 92.5 in (2,350 mm)[1] |
| Length | 159 in (4,039 mm)[1] |
| Width | 61 in (1,549 mm)[1] |
| Height | 57.5 in (1,460 mm)[1] |
| Curb weight | 19 long cwt (2,128.0 lb; 965.2 kg)[1] |
Production of the A40 Sports, which was intended as a sportytouring carrather than a truesports car,[2]began in November 1950[3]for model year 1951. By the time production ended in 1953, just over 4,000[4]had been manufactured.
Overview
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As one in a series of collaborations between Austin andJensen MotorsofWest Bromwich,the A40 Sports originated when Austin's chairmanLeonard Lordsaw theJensen Interceptorand requested that Jensen develop a body that could use the A40 mechanicals.[5]The resultingbody-on-frameA40 Sports was designed byEric Neale,a stylist who had joined Jensen in 1946 after working atWolseley Motors.[6]During production, A40 Sports bodies were built by Jensen and transported to Austin'sLongbridge plantfor final assembly.[4]
Per Lord's intention, the A40 Sports was based on the mechanicals of theAustin A40 Devon,though the centre section of the chassis wasboxed to provide rigidityfor the open body. The A40 Sports also employed a twin-SU carburettorversion of the 1.2 L engine producing 46 bhp (34 kW) rather than 42 bhp (31 kW).[7]Gear selectionwas originally via a floor-mounted lever.[4]Steering wasworm and rollertype, front suspension was independent coil springs with rigid beam axle and semi-ellipticleaf springsat the rear.
Production of the A40 Sports occurred in two series.[3]The initialGD2 Seriesbegan in November 1950 and featured a floor gear change and dashboard identical to that of the Devon.[3]The laterGD3 Seriesbegan production in August 1951 and ended in April 1953, featuring a steering-column gear change, full hydraulic brakes, and a revised dash with a centred instrument panel.[3]4,011 A40 Sports were manufactured.[7]
The A40 Sports had trouble maintaining 60 to 65 miles per hour (97 to 105 km/h) cruising speeds[2]– despite a top speed of 77.8 mph (125.2 km/h) as recorded by the British magazineThe Motorin 1951 – and could accelerate from0–60 mph (97 km/h)in 25.6 seconds. Tests achieved a fuel consumption of 29.3 miles per imperial gallon (9.6 L/100 km; 24.4 mpg‑US).[1]
Reporting similar performance figures, anAutocarroad test in 1950 described the acceleration as "not startling, but more than adequate".[8]The brakes and steering were commended, along with the "very good luggage space" and the "clear to read" instruments, but it was noted that a "considerable leg reach" was needed to use the "foot-operated dip switch" for the headlights.[8]
In the United States[2]– initially targeted as its primary market[2]– the A40 was priced at about $2,200 (equivalent to $25,250, 2021). It was listed at about £818 in the UK,[1]at a time when a mainstream middle market six-cylinder saloon, theVauxhall Velox,was offered for £550 and Austin's ownA40 saloonwas offered for slightly more than £500.
Round the World in 1951
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As apublicity stuntto promote the A40 Sports,Leonard Lordbet Alan Hess of Austin's publicity department that he could not drive round the world in 30 days in the car. In 1951 an A40 Sports driven by Hess[4]achieved theround-the-worldfeat in 21 days rather than the planned 30 – with the assistance of a KLM cargo plane – covering about 10,000 land miles, averaging 475 miles per day and achieving 29mpg.[4]
References
edit- ^abcdefg"The Austin A40 Sports".The Motor.16 May 1951.
- ^abcde"Motoring Memories: Austin A40 Sports, 1951-1953".Canadian Driver, 15 June 2007, Bill Vance.
- ^abcd"Austin A40 Sports".Austinworks.com.
- ^abcde"Austin A40 Sports".Austin Memories. Archived fromthe originalon 5 January 2009.
- ^Stilling, Zack (November 2023). "The baby Jensen".The Automobile.Vol. 41, no. 9. pp. 44–50.
- ^"Jensen Cars".Wolverhampton Museum of Industry. Archived fromthe originalon 24 May 2010.Retrieved6 August2009.
- ^abRobson, G (2006).A–Z of British Cars 1945–80.Devon, UK: Herridge.ISBN978-0-9541063-9-3.
- ^ab"Austin A.40 Sports Convertible".Autocar.20 October 1950.
External links
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